A Bermuda travel specialist has given the thumbs-up to new rules in Britain designed to ease traveller anxiety in the face of a possible global jet fuel crisis.

Under the new plan released on Sunday, airlines in the UK can now group passengers from different flights on to fewer planes and can also hand back some of their allocated take-off and landing slots without penalty.

The new rules which impact airlines such as British Airways — a vital air link for Bermuda, also require airlines to give passengers at least two weeks’ notice of flight changes. It entitles passengers without sufficient notice to a full refund.

Dominic Hodson, director of Purely Bermuda travel agency in Leatherhead, Surrey, said the British Government’s announcement on Sunday was certainly a step in the right direction, provided travellers understood that the intention is to protect their holidays.

This followed Mr Hodson’s earlier statement published in The Royal Gazette, that some British passengers were hesitant about booking summer travel fearing the possibility of a jet fuel shortage upending their plans.

The British Government’s plan is only temporary, specifically targeting the summer travel season.

Mr Hodson said: “With only one daily flight between the United Kingdom/Europe and Bermuda, any cancellation has a disproportionate impact. Alternatives are limited, and most travellers are well aware of that.”

He said even small schedule changes could create awkward knock‑on effects for Bermuda itineraries, so he was hopeful that the Bermuda service remained largely untouched as airlines implemented these measures.

The travel veteran said allowing airlines to consolidate flights should reduce the risk of last‑minute cancellations that leave customers stranded without a holiday.

“That said, any development that keeps the jet fuel situation in the headlines, especially when framed around potential flight cancellations, can still create anxiety among travellers,” he said. “This is why it is crucial for hotels to take a flexible, understanding approach to their amendment and cancellation policies.”

He said Purely Bermuda’s priority has always been to preserve its clients’ bookings wherever possible, even if that means adjusting dates, rather than seeing them cancelled altogether.

On Sunday, Heidi Alexander, Britain’s Transport Secretary, told the media that since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in Iran, the British Government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems.

“There are no immediate supply issues, but we are preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer,” she said.

Ms Alexander added that the new legislation would give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses.

“We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East,” Ms Alexander said.

About 8 per cent of Bermuda’s air visitors come from Britain.